What You'll Learn
- Master weight distribution and stability during sous-sus and soutenu movements.
- Learn to use head and arm placement to maintain equilibrium during center transitions.
- Improve your turnout and shoulder alignment while balancing without the barre.
- Develop the control necessary to execute movements like développé without rushing the tempo.
- Understand the technique for shifting weight forward effectively in croisé positions.
About This Video
Finding your center is one of the most rewarding yet challenging aspects of ballet training. In this Broche Ballet session, we move away from the barre to focus on fast-paced balancing drills designed to challenge your stability and refine your technique. Balancing in the center requires a deep connection to your core, precise weight distribution, and an unwavering focus on alignment.
This class emphasizes the transition from static positions to dynamic movement. We begin with foundational équilibres, focusing on the sous-sus and soutenu movements. One of the primary keys to a successful balance is ensuring that your shoulders remain level with the ground.
By avoiding the tendency to tilt or hitch the hip, you create a solid vertical line that allows the body to stack correctly over the supporting leg. As we progress into more complex movements like développé and tendu, the instructor highlights the importance of weight distribution. When stretching forward or reaching to the side in positions such as croisé, it is essential to push your weight actively into the front leg.
This forward engagement prevents you from falling back into your heels and keeps your energy moving upward and outward. We also explore how the head and arms act as tools for stability rather than just decorative elements. Moving your head in different directions while maintaining a sous-sus challenges the vestibular system, forcing you to find balance through internal sensation rather than just visual spotting.
At Broche Ballet, we encourage students not to rush through these transitions. Taking the extra second to find your stillness in the center builds the muscular memory needed for advanced adagio and pirouettes. Throughout these drills, maintaining proper turnout from the hips is paramount.
By engaging the rotators and keeping the legs active, you create a broader base of support. Whether you are working on a slow développé or a sharp tendu, these drills provide the necessary framework to transition from a student who relies on the barre to a dancer who commands the center floor with grace and control.
